Walmart In NYC? City Council To Debate The Possibility

Simon McCormack
Communications Officer at the New York Civil Liberties Union

Walmart has made no secret of its intentions to open stores in the five boroughs. Now the city council has scheduled a meeting to discuss what impact Walmart would have on New York.

The debate, which will include members from the Small Business, Community Development and Economic Development committees, will not include a discussion of or vote on any specific legislation. But labor groups opposed to Walmart are likely to encourage the Council to look into a law like one passed earlier this month in San Diego.

That law requires retailers of more than 90,000 square feet who sell groceries to conduct an economic impact analysis before their stores can be approved.

Walmart's interest in New York comes on the heels of the announcement that Brooklyn's first Whole Foods is on its way in Gowanus.

What effect do you think Walmart moving in would have on the city and its small businesses? Would New Yorkers turn their nose up at a company plagued by controversy over workers' rights? Or would many cash-strapped residents grit their teeth and take advantage of the shopping conglomerate's lower prices?